Top Reasons to Live in Mississippi

You don't have to break the bank to buy a home! Mississippi has one of the lowest home prices in the nation, with median house or condo values that are 25 to 30 percent below the nation's average. Rent to own homes are less expensive in cities like Pearl, the state capital Jackson and Philadelphia, a smaller city in the central region.

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Property taxes are low! Compared to most other states, Mississippi has a low property tax, especially in south central counties, like Covington and Jefferson Davis, where the annual average taxes are 0.43 and 0.53 percent of the home price.

Rent is affordable! Aside from having a variety of rental properties, the rates are considerably cheaper. Don't be surprised to find a good two-bedroom apartment in the $400 neighborhood. Start your search in rent-friendly cities, like Laurel and Starkville, where several apartment complexes were built recently. Gulfport has a huge market for house rentals, as well as rent to own houses.

Take advantage of special mortgages! If you are a first-time home buyer, you can sign up for a Mississippi Federal Housing Administration loan at a fixed below-market interest rate. There are also other state and federally funded mortgages available. Look for deals in Dekalb or Jonestown.

Wake up to a view of the beach everyday! The 26-mile long Gulf Coast is dotted with charming communities, like Bay St. Louis and Ocean Springs, where luxurious rent to own properties can include a private dock.

Live in a historic home! From quaint Victorian cottages to grand plantation mansions, there's an amazing collection of beautiful heritage homes in Mississippi, especially in Natchez and Vicksburg. Some are for sale and are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places!

It's good for business! Ranked as the fifth best state for entrepreneurs, Mississippi is the place to grow your company. Startup ventures can get an extra boost through the state's unique Incubator Network. Grant programs and tax incentives are also available through the Mississippi Development Authority.

Get even more tax benefits! Bloomberg ranks Mississippi as having the lowest tax burden in the country. Income tax is 5 percent, and sales tax statewide is 7 percent. Take your refund check and treat yourself to something nice at the Gulfport Premium Outlets or the Northport Mall in Richland!

This is golf country! From Aberdeen to Yazoo, there are over 170 fairways where you can perfect your swing. Tee off at the Arnold Palmer-designed course in Biloxi or at Jack Nicklaus' in Madison. Watch the pros in action at the Sanderson Farms Classic, which is part of the PGA Tour.

Experience the blues! Follow the Blues Trail through more than 100 sites across the state, and discover why the blues is more than just music. The trail includes the birthplace of Elvis Presley in Tupelo and Mississippi's oldest operating juke joint in Bentonia.

All the Southern comfort food you want! Satisfy your cravings for deep-fried chicken, seafood gumbo and buttermilk cornbread at favorite local spots. Be sure to drop by Catfish Alley in Columbus, a street lined with several family-owned restaurants. When you're in Rosedale, try Blue Levee's awesome short ribs.

Find your muse here! In a place where there's a lot of soul, some of America's greatest writers have found their inspiration. William Faulkner lived in Oxford, where his family home, Rowan Oak, remains open to the public. Drive by John Grisham's Victorian house while you're in the neighborhood.

A hiker's paradise! Traverse scenic paths, like the trail around Alligator Pond in Hollandale or along Beaver Dam in Brooksville. Mississippi has countless trails that are also perfect for jogging and biking.

Reel in the big one! If you don't, you can always just enjoy the good food, music and company at the festive Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, held yearly at Gulfport Bay since 1947. The popular event includes Fourth of July fireworks and an angling competition.

Where the wild things are! The Magnolia State has 49 wildlife management areas, national parks and six national forests, which includes De Soto and Tombigbee. You can observe a variety of creatures in their natural habitat, like alligators in Natchez Trace Parkway, Canton, and endangered sawback turtles in Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge in Picayune.

Plenty of sites for water sports! Aside from the great Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, the state has several rivers and lakes where you can swim, kayak, canoe or kite surf. Watch your friends speed down one of the 13 water slides at the Geyser Falls Water Park in Choctaw, or join them on a jet ski ride at Grenada Lake.

Go on treasure hunts! Search for geocaches, which are containers hidden by players, in locations steeped in history, such as Old Salem in Senatobia, or surrounded by nature, like the banks of Pearl River in Neshoba.

Hit the jackpot! Large and small casinos have mushroomed in many parts of the state, such as Biloxi, Tunica and Gulfport. If you enjoy rolling the dice, try your luck at Isle of Capri in Lula or Lighthouse Point in Greenville.